Wikis in the K12 Classroom

WIKIS IN THE CLASSROOMPatrick Woessner

MICDS Summer Teacher Institute 2010

http://pwoessner.wikispaces.com/Wikis+in+the+Classroom

WORKSHOP AGENDA

Why Wikis Cooperative Learning Project Based Learning Authentic Assessment

Classroom Examples Type -- Tool -- Task

Compare and Create Wikispaces Media Wiki PBworks

Assessing Wikis Q and A

Image Source: http://spacewithapurpose.wikispaces.com/Wikis+Home

WHY WIKIS IN THE CLASSROOM? Support group projects/group authoring

Greater accountability Connect students and facilitate peer review

Synchronous and asynchronous communication Organize and distribute resources

Class page/project website Showcase student work

Control access Provide timely feedback

Makes learning transparent

Image Source: http://www.jeffstanger.net/blog/

WHY WIKIS?: COOPERATIVE LEARNING

Cooperative Learning is a relationship in a group of students that requires positive interdependence (a sense of sink or swim together), individual accountability (each of us has to contribute and learn), interpersonal skills (communication, trust, leadership, decision making, and conflict resolution), face-to-face promotive interaction, and processing (reflecting on how well the team is functioning and how to function even better).

Text Source: http://www.co-operation.org/Image Source: http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/imagecoopgif.gif

WHY WIKIS: PROJECT BASED LEARNING

Project Based Learning is an instructional approach built upon authentic learning activities that engage student interest and motivation. These activities are designed to answer a question or solve a problem and generally reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom.

Text Source: http://pbl-online.org/Image Source: http://www.profoundlearning.com/Content/EducationSolutions/projectBasedLearning.jpg

WHY WIKIS: AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT

Authentic Assessment provides engaging and worthy problems or questions of importance, in which students must use knowledge to fashion performances effectively and creatively. The tasks are either replicas of or analogous to the kinds of problems faced by adult citizens and consumers or professionals in the field.

Text Source: Wiggins, 1993, p. 229Image Source: http://a100educationalpolicy.pbworks.com/f/1260216782/bigpuzpic.gif

BENEFITS TO STUDENTS Opportunities for

collaboration Learn to work together Learn from each other

Engage every student Everyone

participates/contributes Extends the learning

environment Resources always

available Improves organization Provides cohesion to the

learning experience

Image Source: http://sciencenotes.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/wiki_web_c-by-andrew-weldon.jpg

WIKIS IN PLAIN ENGLISH

2ND GRADE: WINTER OLYMPICS

Type: Class Project Tool: Wikispaces Task: Class created their own Olympic torch

and attempted a “virtual” torch relay. Their goal was to see if they could get their torch to all five regions represented by the Olympic rings.

URL: http://globetrotters.wikispaces.com/Winter+Olympics

5TH GRADE GEOGRAPHY: GEO-SQUIRTS

Type: Class Page Tool: Wikispaces Task: Teacher-managed portal for

collaborative projects with other schools; also serves as a showcase for student work.

URL: http://geo-squirts-usa.wikispaces.com/

6TH GRADE HISTORY: ROME AND CHINA

Type: Project Wiki Tool: Wikispaces Task: Students individually researched a

question related to Han China and Imperial Rome. Findings were shared on the wiki and the activity culminated in an oral presentation.

URL: http://romeandchina.wikispaces.com/

7TH GRADE SCIENCE: EVOLUTION

Type: Project Wiki Tool: MediaWiki Task: Students (working alone or in pairs)

chose one of three questions to research and used the wiki to organize their findings. Final product was an image-based presentation.

URL: http://wiki.micds.org/wiki/The_Evolution_Project

7TH GRADE ENGLISH: ANIMAL FARM

Type: Project Wiki Tool: MediaWiki Task: Students worked in small groups and

completed several tasks that would enable them to teach two chapters of Animal Farm to their peers.

URL: http://wiki.micds.org/wiki/Animal_Farm

8TH GRADE ENGLISH: SINGLE SCENE PLAY

Type: Project Tool: MediaWiki Task: Working in small groups, students wrote

a single scene play that included cast descriptions, stage directions, and dialog.

URL: http://tinyurl.com/wikiplay

9TH GRADE ENGLISH: SURVIVOR ISLAND

Type: Project Tool: Pbworks Task: Transform “Lord of the Flies” into a

cooperative learning experience where groups of students are “stranded” on an island and survival is the goal.

URL: http://lordofsurvival.pbworks.com/

AP CALCULUS: SOLUTION MANUAL

Type: Student Resource Tool: Pbworks Task: Students help each other learn by

writing a collaborative solutions manual that includes a detailed annotation of the steps involved.

URL: http://apcalc2008.pbworks.com/

ADVANCED CHEMISTRY: LAB REPORT

Type: Project Tool: MediaWiki Task: Students published their lab reports

and included statements of contribution and concurrence. Note use of tables and formulas.

URL: http://tinyurl.com/micdschemlab

GLOBAL ISSUES: WIKI BOOKS

Type: Wiki Book Tool: MediaWiki Task: Student groups researched and shared

aspects of a global issue for different regions of the world. Final product was a “book” on the topic of study.

URL: http://wiki.micds.org/book/Main_Page/Global_Issues

USING WIKIS: SO EASY A MOUSE CAN DO IT

Image Source: http://www.funnytimes.com/playground/img/123470786525169.png

GETTING STARTED: WIKISPACES

Wikispaces provides ad-free wikis for K-12 use at no cost.

Wikispaces Private Label provides additional services and levels of control for an annual fee

GETTING STARTED: WIKISPACES

Strengths: Very easy to customize, edit, and manage Video, audio, calendars, documents, and more

can be added via Widgets without knowledge of HTML

All Wikispaces you own or to which you belong can be accessed and managed from one central location

Limitations: Does not support page sections like Mediawiki;

only one person can edit a page at any given time

Hosted by Wikispaces; convenient but your data is on someone else’s server

GETTING STARTED: MEDIAWIKI

Mediawiki is free and powerful; Wikipedia is built on the Mediawiki platform

Can be hosted locally or through a hosting service

GETTING STARTED: MEDIAWIKI

Strengths: Supports page sections for multi-user page

editing Local hosting provides complete control over

users and data Features like the Book Creation Tool and <ref tag

are well suited for student research Limitations:

Requires knowledge of wiki syntax Design options rather limited; multi-media can

be challenging to include on a page

GETTING STARTED: PBWORKS

PBworks offers Basic, Classroom, and Campus editions of their wiki service for K-12 educators

Hosting is provided and upgrading service allows for greater flexibility and control

GETTING STARTED: PBWORKS

Strengths: Folder structure allows for easy file management Almost any online tool with an embed code can

be used in PBworks. Classroom and Campus Editions are less

expensive than Wikispaces Private Label Limitations:

No discussion tab; requires posting threaded comments which are visible on main page

Hosted by Pbworks; convenient but your data is on someone else’s server

A WORD ABOUT PERMISSIONS

Wikis can be public or private If public, students should not share

personal information If private, you control who can edit and view Important pages should be locked from

editing

ASSESSING WIKIS

Process is as important as Product Utilize History, in-class observations, & peer

review Read-Write-Think offers a 5 category wiki

rubric: Content Organization Attractiveness Contribution to the Group Accuracy

Tools like Rubistar and iRubric can greatly aid the rubric creation process and allow for easy collaboration among teachers.

QUESTIONS?Visit the workshop wiki for more information at http://pwoessner.wikispaces.com/Wikis+in+the+ClassroomFeel free to play in our sandbox wiki at http://micdssandbox.wikispaces.com/Contact me directly at pwoessner@micds.org